Introduction to Western Religion

A study of the origins and development of religious thought and practice in the Western tradition, beginning with the Old and New Testaments and extending through modern theological developments in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The course explores basic theological themes of the Bible against a backdrop of alternative contemporary beliefs and then surveys the subsequent history of endeavor to define and establish the authority of competing interpretations of Western scriptures. Lectures and readings are designed not only to build familiarity with the varied content of Western faiths but also to provide the religious methods, skills, and background essential to a better understanding of Western history, literature, society, and culture.